This cross-cultural study aims to identify and compare the actual and preferred sources of sexuality information among American and Turkish university students on various sex-related topics. College students’ perceptions of the role of their parents as sexual education providers were also examined. The literature suggests that young people receive sexuality information from a variety of sources (e.g., Andre, Frevert & Schuchmann, 1989; Ballard & Morris, 1998). Knowing the importance of different sources will provide educators with opportunities to incorporate and combine a variety of these sources into their curriculum. Furthermore, integration of different sources of sexual learning may increase the effectiveness of sexuality education. While there has been numerous research on the sources of sexuality information in the United States (e.g., Miller, Benson & Galbrait, 2001; Moore & Davidson, 1999; Raffaeeli & Green, 2003) little has been known about the sources of Turkish students. Additionally, little is known about cross-cultural comparisons of two different cultures on the sources of sexuality information. The following research questions guided the research process. 1. What are the sources that American and Turkish university students received information on various sex-related topics? 2. What are the sources that American and Turkish university students preferred to receive information on various sex-related topics? 3. What are the roles of parents as sexual education providers from the perspectives of American and Turkish university students?

The participants consisted of 226 college students from the United States and 305 college students from Turkey. Among them 60.6% of American and 54.1% of Turkish participants were female, while 39.4% of American and 45.9% of Turkish participants were male. The mean age of participants in the United States was 18.95 (SD=1.19 ) and 20.84 in Turkey (SD=1.79). Sixty-seven per cent of the American and 44.6% of Turkish students were freshman. The data collection instrument, was a self-report anonymous questionnaire developed by the researchers. The first part of the questionnaire assessed demographic data such as age, college classification, parents’ educational level. The second part consisted of 21 items about sex-related topics (e.g. personal hygiene, puberty, pregnancy and delivery, intercourse etc.) and 11 possible sources of information (e.g. parents, siblings, school/teacher, TV/movies, the internet etc.). The participants were asked to indicate three preferred sources of sexuality information for each sex-related topic. In the third part of the questionnaire same items were included and the participants were asked to indicate three actual sources that they received information on each sex–related topic. Sex- related topics were determined by using variety of commonly used questionnaires and SIECUS Guideline (SIECUS, 2000).

Overall, results indicated that both American and Turkish university students received sexuality information from various sources depending on the sex-related topic. They also prefer to obtain sexuality information from different sources, including parents. Both American and Turkish participants preferred to obtain information related to sensitive sexuality issues such as abortion, STD, birth control etc. from a professional rather than from their parents. Moreover, Turkish participants appeared to be more hesitant to discuss sex-related issues with their parents. Results clearly revealed that parents, community professionals, educational materials, and schools/teachers were preferred sources of sexuality information by both American and Turkish university students. Thus, policy makers should perhaps take note that only the collaborative efforts of these sources may make a difference in providing effective sexuality education for young people.